Textile Electrodes - A New Paradigm!?

Presentation Summary

This presentation will give an overview about the new paradigm of electrodes. Furthermore, it presents advantages of the 'new' electrodes, focusing on moss embroidered electrodes.

Due to its great wearing comfort in comparison to standard electrodes, textile electrodes play more and more an important role within a variety of medical applications such as sensors and/or actuators. Advantages of textile electrodes are its ductility, flexibility, great conductivity and therefore its functionality for muscle and nerve stimulation as well as surveillance of body signals such as EMG and ECG.

A vital part of textile electrodes are conductive yarns or fabrics integrated in the clothing, directly and hence ensure mobility. The conductivity of the electrode is pursued through silver incorporated into yarns or fabrics. Silver as a metal has great textile properties, as it is a very ductile, high electrical and thermal conductive as well as it is antimicrobial. The textile electrode itself implements into a garment through a weaving, knitting or embroidery process. Through its direct implementation into the clothing, the textile electrode guarantees an ideal body fit as well as it enhances patient compliance because it prevents intolerances of the patients resulting from the glue of conventional electrodes.

Besides the good body fit there are also other advantages of textile electrodes in comparison to standard electrodes. Textile electrodes are for instance washable, sterilizable and therefore re-usable. In addition to that, textile electrodes can be integrated in different types of base materials. Applications of textile sensors are for example EMG, ECG, EEG as well as the measurement of skin resistance. Applications of textile actuators are for instance TENS, FES, and EMS.

Speaker Biography (Sven Böhmer)

1995 - 1998 Internship Forwarding Agent

1998 - 1999 Social Service

1999 - 2003 Pre-Diploma Degree in Business / International Management, School of applied Science Bremen

2004 - 2005 Master (Msc) degree at the University of Glamorgan, Wales GB focusing on Management.

2005 - 2009 Lecturer for Business English, School of applied science Bremen & Head of business start-up seminars at Bildungszentrum der Wirtschaft im Unterwesergebiet

2009 - 2018 Sales and R&D at Statex Produktions & Vertriebs GmbH

Since 2018 Sales Manager at Statex Produktions- und Vertriebs

GmbH

Company Profile (Statex Produktions & Vertriebs GmbH)

Statex Produktions & Vertriebs GmbH, founded in 1978 and located in Bremen, Germany is the worldwide market leader in silver-coated fabric industry. The family owned business is a medium sized enterprise with about 35 employees. The metallization of polyamide yarns, fibres, fabrics and non-woven with 99% pure silver forms the core business of Statex. The products sold under the brand name Shieldex® and implemented in various markets such as in the medical and aerospace industry. Furthermore, Shieldex® products contribute with a high stake in the development of smart textiles. This is because the attributes of silver fulfill various textile requirements such as ductility and conductivity. The bonding of the silver is very good as within the unique silverization process of Statex, silver is rooted into Polyamide. and hence penetrates the Polyamide. In addition to that, Statex Produktions and Vertriebs GmbH puts additional layers of metal such as nickel, copper and tin on polyamide fabrics in order to enhance conductivity and shielding performance against electromagnetic waves.